I have always joked that the day I got engaged there would be a press release to the media because quite honestly, I never thought this day would come! After going through most my thirties without calling someone my boyfriend I was resolute with the fact that marriage was just not in the cards for me. Then I met John. Well, it didn’t happen just like that, I met John on a date and we became just friends. And stayed just friends for almost two years. Then one fateful night I get a message from him while he was in Costa Rica and I was in India saying that we should give dating a try. As they say, timing is everything… After one week of “dating” we were at an event, sitting in the middle of a crowded venue and it was like we were the only people there and I just knew. I knew that I was never going on another first date. In that moment I realized that everything I have always been looking for was right in front of me. And the best part, I knew he felt the same way. It’s an amazing feeling to love and be loved back by that person. I have craved this for so long and it’s more than I ever imagined. That moment changed me. It changed my outlook on life. All the things I worried about or stressed over didn’t so much matter anymore. I was happy and excited to get up every morning because I had found him.
Fast forward six months and we are engaged! I have a fiancé! And the most thoughtful and perfect one at that! (I can say that because he is mine!) John and I had been talking about our future a lot and making plans for the long haul. I knew that a proposal was likely to come before the end of the year but never did I expect it over Labor Day weekend! I flew up to Maine on Wednesday evening to spend some quality time with my momma at our summer home before my parents closed it up for the season. Knowing that we wanted to get married in Maine, I arranged for my mom and I to look at some wedding venues on Thursday since it was my last trip up for the year.
After looking at two venues and falling in love with one we headed home where my dad greeted us in the driveway. It was about 4:30 and the sun was starting to set into a beautiful Maine sunset. My mom suggested that since we were dressed cute that we go have our picture taken down at the boathouse. Not being one to miss out on a photo opp, I fluffed my hair and the three of us started across the courtyard. As we approached the boathouse, I all of a sudden see John coming up over the hill and I was shocked. The next thing I knew, he was down on one knee saying a lot of nice things to me (I had to ask him later to repeat them because I couldn’t remember a word!) and I just kept saying, how did you get here?! Then I look over and completely forgotten that my parents were standing there taking pictures! I just remember squealing, “I get to be your wife!” He said I said yes (again, its kind of all a blur) and then he put the most gorgeous ring on my finger. He pulled off the most perfect surprise! He said he knew it had to be a surprise, he knew I needed to be wearing a cute outfit and he knew I wanted pictures and he scored on all of them! And the cherry on top is that he did it in Maine! John said that he if Maine was a special enough place for us to get married then it only made sense that he propose there too. I mean, y’all, how sweet is that?!
So ironically, after spending a day looking at venues and talking about my fake fiancé, I come home and get a real one! Cloud 9, I tell you! Oh, and to throw me off even more, he had fake planned a weekend to the beach for this weekend which is when I was kind of thinking it might happen. So sneaky! Also, a huge shout out to my mom who was John’s accomplice! I did not know she was so capable of keeping secrets from me! Those two… I am going to have to keep my eye on them! P.S. I was also thankful we weren’t going to beach since I never did find that summer beach body!
Another bonus, we got to go back to my favorite venue and see it together and now are all booked for July 27, 2019! Someone please pinch me, because this is what fairytales are made of!
